Latch and lock structure



g- 16, 1966' w. E. ATKINSON 3,266,275

LATCH AND LOCK STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 21, 1965 INVENTOR WALLACE. E. A-rmNsoN ATTORNEYS W- E. ATKINSON LATCH AND LOCK STRUCTURE Aug. 16, 1966 Filed Jan. 21, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 U 'IIIII'I I'IIIIII'I'I/IIII'I INVENT OR WALLACE Efivnamsow ATTORNEY J United States Patent 3,266,275 LATCH AND LOCK STRUCTURE Wallace E. Atkinson, Petershurg, Va., assignor to Long Manufacturing Company Inc., Petersburg, Va., a corporation of Virginia Filed Jan. 21, 1965, 501'. No. 426,946 7 Claims. (Cl. 70-70) The present invention relates in general to a combined latch and lock structure especially adapted for application to containers or receptacles having separable parts to be releasably secured in closed position, and more particularly to a combined latch and lock structure for luggage cases and similar containers having a cover section hinged to a body section, wherein the latching and locking components of the mechanism are housed in a well member to normally lie substantially flush with the adjacent surface of the luggage and which are movable along an arcuate path about an axis parallel to said surface to release the structure from latched relation with its keeper.

Heretofore, it has been the usual practice in the design and construction of combined latch and lock mechanisms for luggage cases and the like to provide a spring biased bolt on one of the separable container sections which is urged int-o latching relation with a keeper on the other separable case section whenever the sections are moved to closed relationship. If a movable finger piece of some sort were provided in such prior devices to permit the operator to overcome the spring bias and release the latch, it usually constituted a projection or extension from the lock body or casing disrupting the continuity and artistic appearance of the casing.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a combined latch and lock structure which is simple and compact in construction, attractive in appearance and reliable in operation, and which is capable of manufacture in an economical manner.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a combined latch and lock structure wherein the latch and lock components are housed in a concave well to normally lie substantially flush with the adjacent surface of the associated container or luggage, and which are movable along an arcuate path about an axis paralleling the structure to release the latch components from latching relation with a keeper.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel combined lat-ch and lock structure of the type described in the preceding paragraph, wherein the latch and lock components are mounted in a channel member having flanges of circular segmental configuration and a flat forwardly facing web normally lying substantially flush with the adjacent luggage surface.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating two preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a combined latch and lock mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention and shown in position on a portion of a luggage receptacle indicated in broken lines;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical transverse section view to an enlarged scale taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded perspective view of the latch section of the latch and lock mechanism;

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal longitudinal section view of the latch section taken along the line 4-4 of FIG- URE 1, illustrating the parts in locked condition;

"ice

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal longitudinal section view taken along the same plane as FIGURE 4 and illustrating .the parts in unlocked and unlatched condition; and

. a luggage case, and a keeper 13 which may be mounted on the separable cover section 14 of the luggage case. Such latch section and keeperv are usually mounted on the front wall of their respective receptacle sections adjacent the plane of separation between the receptacle body and cover, indicated by reference character 15.

The latch section 11 comprises a housing member 16 having a front panel portion 17 of laterally or horizontally elongated, generally rectangular configuration and a rearwardly projecting well portion 18 defining a forwardly opening well 19 in the configuration ofa segment of a cylinder concentric with a vertical axis located forwardly of the front panel portion 17 and substantially centered between the opposite lateral ends or vertical edges of the panel portion 17. The well 19 is bounded by an arcuate concave inner wall 20 and top and bottom walls 21, 22 of circular segment configuration preferably integral with the front panel portion 17 and concave inner wall 20. The marginal portions of the front panel portion on all sides thereof extend beyond the extremities of the well portion 18 to define mounting and locating flanges 17' for the housing member 17. The housing member 17 is adapted to be mounted in the body portion 12 of the luggage or container by projecting the well portion 18 through a suitable accommodating opening 23 cut in the front wall 12 of the luggage body 12 until the flanges 17 butt against the front surface of the wall 12' bounding the opening 23, thus disposing the front panel portion 17 substantially flush with the luggage front wall 12, and the housing member 11 is secured in this position by suitable mounting screws or rivets 24 extending through apertures in the flanges 17 into the luggage front wall, or by bendable ears projecting integrally from member 11 through the front wall, or by other suitable fastening means.

Disposed within the well 19 of the housing member 16 is a movable latch member 25 of corresponding configuration to the well 19 adapted to be rotated through a small arc therein and displaced laterally through a short distance during such rotation to release the cooperating keeper 13. This movable latch member 25, in one convenient embodiment, includes a front wall 26 of substantially planiforrn rectangular configuration having circular segmental top and bottom flanges 27, 28 extending rearwardly therefrom along substantially parallel planes and conforming closely to the curvature and configuration of the well 19 in horizontal section to nest therein in the normal latch condition of the latch 25 with the front wall 26 substantially flush with the panel portion 17 of the housing member 16. The top and bottom flanges 27 28 are'provided with slightly elongated curved slots 29 concentric with the axis of rotation of the curved inner wall 20 of the well 19, aligned with the circular apertures 30 in the top and bottom walls 21, 22 of the well portion 18 to receive a rivet 31 defining the pivot and latch axis of the latch member 25. The top flange 27 is also provided with a keeper aperture 32 having an enlarged portion 36 and a constricted portion 34. The enlarged portion 33 of the keeper aperture 32 is sized in accordance with the cross section of the tongue 35 on the keeper 13 while the constricted portion 34 of keeper aperture 32 corresponds to the smallest cross section of the groove or kerf 36 of keeper tongue 35. A keeper aperture 37 is also provided in the top wall 21 of the well portion 18 corresponding substantially in cross section to the enlarged portion 33 of keeper aperture 3 2.

The latch member 22 also has a boss formation 38 at one end thereof providing a rear-wardly opening socket 39 for housing the spring and ball of a spring check mechanism 40, the ball of which is resiliently urged rearwardly toward the concave inner wall 20 of well 19 to seat in either of detents 41 or 41', and frictionally restrain the latch member 25 in either the latching position of FIGURE 4 or the unlatched position of FIGURE 5.

A key lock unit 42 of generally rectangular or box-like configuration is suitably secured in the latch member 25 against the inner surface of the front wall 26 as by bosses 43, or by rivets, cast lugs projecting from the rear side of front wall 26, or other suitable fastening means, and may be of conventional construction. As an illustrative lock unit construction, lock unit 42 includes the housing 44, rectilinearly reciprocating bolt 45 having a key receiving opening in the center thereof and shoulder formations cooperating with wards on the key bit to effect movement of the bolt to projected and retracted positions, and spring means formed for example from a spring-like extension 46a on the rear cover plate 46 of the housing 44 engaging a notch or the end of extension 45a of the bolt to frictionally restrain the bolt in either the projected or retracted positions. The wall of the lock unit housing 44 adjacent the latch member front wall 26 is provided with the usual key admitting circular opening and a conventional key cylinder 47 journaled in the latch member front wall 26 in alignment therewith. Projecting forwardly from an appropriate location on the concave inner wall 20 of the well 19 is a locking post or shoulder formation 48 terminating in a flat outwardly facing surface 48' immediately adjacent the rear surface of the bolt 45 when the latter is in projected position and the latch member 25 is in latched condition. This locking post 48 therefore serves to abut the projecting portion of the bolt 45 and prevent rotation of the latch member 25 about its axis of rotation so long as the bolt 45 is projected.

In theoperation of the above-described latch and lock structure, the latch member 25 is normally in the position illustrated in FIGURE 4 wherein the front wall 26 thereof is substantially flush with the plane of the front panel portion 17 of housing member 16 and the adjacent surface of the luggage, and the bolt 45 is projected from the lock unit housing 44 to a position overlying the outer surface 48 of the locking post 48. Since the rivet 31 extending through the apertures 30 in the well portion walls 21, 22 is in this condition located at the left hand limit of the slots 29 in the latch member 25, no rotation or movement of the latch member 25 toward its unlatched position can be effected. However, upon insertion of the appropriate key into the lock unit housing 44 and rotation of the key to retract the bolt 45, the normally projecting portion of the bolt 45 is withdrawn from lapping relation to the locking post 48 and finger pressure on the right hand end portion of the latch member front wall 26 will eifect rotation of the latch member 25 Within the well 19 to the FIGURE position whereupon the ball of the spring check mechanism 40 will seat in detent 41'. This movement of the latch member 25 withdraws the constricted keeper aperture portion 34 of keeper aperture 32 in the latch member top flange 27, which normally laps across part of keeper aperture 37 and projects into keeper slot 36, from registry with the keeper slot 36 and aperture 37 and disposes enlarged keeper aperture portion 33 in registry with keeper aperture 37. This frees the keeper tongue 35 for withdrawal from the latch and lock mechanism and permits opening of the container cover or lid. Upon reinsertion of the keeper tongue 35 into the aligned keeper aperture 37 and enlarged keeper aperture portion 3 3, the latch member 25 may be rotated from the FIGURE 5 position to the FIGURE 4 position and the key rotated to again project the bolt 45 into lapped relation with the locking post 48 to return the mechanism to locked condition.

While but one preferred example of the present invention has been particularly shown and described, it is apparent that various modifications may be made therein within the spirit and scope of the invention, and its is desired, therefore, that only such limitations be placed on the invention as are imposed by the prior art and set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A combined latch and lock adapted to be mounted :on separable parts of a container adjacent a line of separation therebetween, comprising a keeper to be affixed to one of the separable parts, a latching unit on a surface of the other of said separable parts including a housing member defining a well of substantially circular segment configuration concentric with an axis spaced outwardly from said surface of the associated separable part and opening outwardly thereof, a movable latch member of substantially coresponding configuration to said well nested therein, means supporting said latch member for circumferential displacement along an arcuate path about said axis from a normal latching position nested in registering relation in said well to a release position displaced circumferentially from said latching position in one direction, said housing member and latch member having keeper receiving apertures therein to receive a portion of said keeper in said latch member when said separable containe-r parts are in a closed position, and said latch member including means for latching the keeper portion therein against withdrawal therefrom and for freeing the keeper portion for withdrawal when said latch member occupies said latching and release positions respectively.

2. In a combined latch and look as defined in claim 1, said housing member having a concave cylindrical wall defining the inner boundary of said wall, a stop post on said cylindrical wall projecting toward the outer opening of said well and terminating in a fiat stop surface, said latch member including a key lock unit having a reciprocative bol-t movable responsive to a key from a projected position to a retracted position, said stop post being disposed relative to the path of movement of the bolt in projected position to intercept the projected bolt and prevent movement of the latch member from latching to release position and to permit passage of the bolt thereby in retracted position.

3. A combined latch and lock adapted to be mounted on separable parts of a container having co-planar front surfaces adjacent a line of separation therebetween comprising a keeper to be affixed to one of the separable parts, a latching unit on a planar front surface of other of said separable parts including a housing member defining an outwardly opening well of substantially circular segment configuration concentric with an axis spaced outwardly from the front surface of the associated separ able part, a movable latch member of substantially corresponding configuration to said well nested therein having an elongated planiform front wall and inwardly projecting circular segment portions, means supporting said latch member for circumferential displacement along an arcuate path about said axis responsive to finger pressure on said front wall near one end thereof from a normal latching position nested in registering relation in said well with said front wall in parallelism to said front surface to a release position displaced circumferentially from said latching position in one direction disposing said front wall in angular relation to said front surface, said housing member and latch member having keeper receiving apertures therein to receive a portion of said keeper in said latch member when said separable container parts are in a closed position, and said latch member including means for latching the keeper portion therein against withdrawal therefrom and for freeing the keeper portion for withdrawal when said latch member occupies said latching and release positions respectively.

4. In a combined latch and lock as defined in claim 3, said latch member including a key lock having a bolt movable by a key between a projected and a retracted position within said well, and said housing member including a stop surface located adjacent said bolt when the latter is in projected position and said latch memb'er occupies said latching position to bar movement of said latch member to said release position.

5. A combined latch and lock adapted to be mounted on separable parts of a container having co-planar front surfaces adjacent a line of separation therebetween comprising a keeper to be aflixed to one of the separable parts having a keeper tongue projecting toward the other separable part, a latch unit on a planar surface of other of said separable parts including a housing member defining an outwardly opening well of substantially circular segment configuration concentric with an axis spaced outwardly from the front surface of the associated separable part, a movable latch member of substantially corresponding configuration to said well nested the-rein having a planiform front wall and inwardly projecting circular segment portions, means supporting said latch member for circumferential displacement along an arcuate path about said axis from a normal latching position nested in registering relation in said well with said front Wall paralleling said front surface to a release position displaced circumferentially from said latching position in one direction disposing said front wall in angular relation to said front surface, and said housing member havingan aperture therein sized to pass said keeper tongue therethrough into said well when said separable container parts are in a closed postion, one of said circular segment portions of said latch member having a slot elongated in the direction of said arcuate path including -a constricted portion to interlock said keeper tongue against withdrawal therefrom at said latching position and an enlarged portion for freeing the keeper tongue for Withdrawal when said latch member occupies said release position.

6. In a combined latch and lock as defined in claim 5, said latch member including a key lock having a bolt movable by a key between a projected and a retracted position within said well, and said housing member including a stop surface located adjacent said bolt when the latter is in projected position and said latch member occupies said latching position to bar movement of said latch member to said release position.

7. A combined latch and lock adapted to be mounted on separable parts of a container having co-planar front surfaces adjacent a line of separation therebetween comprising a keeper to be affixed to one of the separable parts having a keeper tongue projecting toward the other separable part, a latching unit on a planar surface of other of said separable parts including a housing member defining an outwardly opening well of substantially circular segment configuration concentric with an axis spaced outwardly from the front surface of the associated separable part, a movable latch member of substantially corresponding configuration to said well nested therein having a pl'aniform front wall and inwardly projecting circular segment portions, means supporting said latch member for circumferential displacement along an arcuate path about said axis from a normal latching position nested in registering relation in said well with said front wall paralleling said front surface to a release position displaced circumferentially from said latching position in one direction disposing said front wall in angular relation to said front surface, and said housing member having an aperture therein sized to pass said keeper tongue therethrough into said wall when said separable container parts are in a closed position, one of said circular segment portions of said latch member having a slot elongated in the direction of said arcuate path including a constricted portion to interlock said keeper tongue against withdrawal therefrom at said latching position and an enlarged portion for freeing the keeper tongue for withdrawal when said latch member occupies said release position, said housing member having a concave cylindrical wall defining the inner boundary of said well, a stop post on said cylindrical wall projecting toward the outer opening of said well and terminating in a flat stop surface, said latch member including a key lock unit having a reciprocative bolt movable responsive to a key from a projected position to a retracted position, said stop post being disposed relative to the path of movement of the bolt in projected position to intercept the projected bolt and prevent movement of the latch member from latching to release position and to permit passage of the bolt thereby in retracted position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 287,114 10/ l 883 Flocke 292162 2,246,708 6/1941 Wieben -208 2,514,980 7/1950 Vincent 7070 3,020,742 2/ 1962 Gehrie 7069 3,152,467 10/ 1964 Fanning 292204 X BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner. 

1. COMBINED LATCH AND LOCK ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ON SEPARABLE PARTS OF A CONTAINER ADJACENT A LINE OF SEPARATION THEREBETWEEN, COMPRISING A KEEPER TO BE AFFIXED TO ONE OF THE SEPARABLE PARTS, A LATCHING UNIT ON A SURFACE OF THE OTHER OF SAID SEPARABLE PARTS INCLUDING A HOUSING MEMBER DEFINING A WELL OF SUBSTANTIALLY CIRCULAR SEGMENT CONFIGURATION CONCENTRIC WITH AN AXIS SPACED OUTWARDLY FROM SAID SURFACE OF THE ASSOCIATED SEPARABLE PART AND OPENING OUTWARDLY THEREOF, A MOVABLE LATCH MEMBER OF SUBSTANTIALLY CORRESPONDING CONFIGURATION TO SAID WELL NESTED THEREIN, MEANS SUPPORTING SAID LATCH MEMBER FOR CIRCUMFERENTIAL DISPLACEMENT ALONG AN ARCUATE PATH ABOUT SAID AXIS FROM A NORMAL LATCHING POSITION NESTED IN REGISTERING RELATION IN SAID WELL TO A RELEASE POSITION DISPLACED CIRCUMFERENTIALLY FROM SAID LATCHNG POSITION IN ONE DIRECTION, SAID HOUSING MEMBER AND LATCH MEMBER HAVING KEEPER RE- 